Clodshot found in Kufstein Austria

[Marcus den toom]

The historian Fugger Jäger wrote in its Chronical of the House of Austria (1555) about the siege and conquest of Kufstein following. Emperor Maximilian I ordered Micheli on September 29th 1504 against Kufstein. The Duke Albrecht of Bavaria and Erich von Braunschweig, Margrave (medieval title for the military commander assigned to maintain the defense of one of the border provinces of the Holy Roman Empire) Friedrich, Jörg and Casimir of Brandenburg and Christoph von Baden, the Baron of Freising, Würzburg and many others accompanied him.
The cities Reichenhall, Traunstein and Kitzbühel yielded rapidly. Emperor Maximilian preferred Kufstein. He had it bombarded by gunfire as to force the city to surrender. But Hans Penntzenawer von Bayern kept the citizens, who wanted to submit, by threats back. He put a garrison in the city, hoping to be able to stand the siege for a year. At the same time he fired all the cannons into the encampment of Emperor Maximilian who in return relocated his forces. He ordered a three day ceasefire as to confuse Penntzenawer. In the meantime Maximilian ordered his heavy artillery from Innsbruck (Austria), where his large armoury was situated. The cannons where transported on rafts on the river Inn. They have strange names like Schöne Kathl, Türkische Kaiserin, Burgunderin. The two biggest guns that existed at that time were called "Purlepaus" and "Weckauf" and had to be pulled each by 32 horses. The weight of the cannonballs was between 100 and 150 kg. After three days of shelling the fort was in ruins. Penntzenawer offered to surrender if Maximillian would grant him a save retreat, but he was rejected since the castle was already a ruin. On the 17th of October 1504 the castle was raided and Penntzenawer was captivated. Maximilian had Hans von Penntzenawer / Pienzenau and 17 of his fellow captains beheaded.

Right lower corner, Kufstain

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[Marcus den toom]

Predating this siege was the claim by Maximillian on territories in old Bayern, including the cities Kufstein, Rattenberg and Kitzbühel from the Wittelsbacher family. Kufstein was the property of the Penntzenawer family who reluctantly gave up Kufstein in June 1504 with their new instatement by Maximilian as caretaker of the city they once owned. After an oath, securing the allegiance from Penntzenawer, the city was left in their care and fortified with new artillery from Innsbruck. In August they rebelled and turned back to their former party, the Wittelsbacher family.

At the beginning of the siege Maximilian had 24 cannons to shoot the heavy and high walls of Kufstein from the Zellerberg. They first fired three warning shots after which Kufstein would have to capitulate or endure the bombardment of all the cannons. At first the small cannons could not penetrate the walls of Kufstein. After this Maximilian ordered the heaviest cannons from Innsbruck.



http://www.regesta-imperii.de/en/reg...09e617fe#rinav

http://www.regesta-imperii.de/en/reg...75daf3f5#rinav

[Marcus den toom]

This piece of heavy clodshot has a diameter of 63mm and weighs 1150grams. It is multi sided, but I cannot, for now, determine how many flats it has. The iron broke through the lead at the point of impact.This ball was found in Zell, a part of modern Kufstein near the river Inn. This was most likely the place where Maximilian had his encampment. Alongside this find there was also a mortar shell of approximately 10cm.

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[Marcus den toom]

In the lead there are still markings from where the ramrod hit the ball when it was pushed inside the brass cannon barrel

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[Marcus den toom]

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http://www.bezirksbegleiter.at/de/pa...-von-purlepaus

Emperor Maximilian I, The last knight and first gunner (nicknames of the Emperor) loved his guns, including the weird names. Here is an abridged version of the poem "Max at Kufstein" by Anastasius Grün.

Pinzenauer looked from Kufstein on the Giant Wall
With scorn, defiance and mighty pride on down on Max's army

As an alpine vulture carefree facing his persecutors,
Far away in the deep valley the guns are aimed at him

From a hundred mortars flew thundering cannonballs
Rebounding without a trace from the heavy walls

There you saw Pinzenauern high on the wall,
A large reed bundle he held in his hand.

Where Max's cannonballs flew he cowers down
And swept the ruble scornfully with his broom.

King Maxen thoughed it took to long
But the throbbing already sounded his heartbeat

Because he called for Innsbruck, his armoury
"Sends but once the “wakeup Purlepaus!"

The walls of Kufstein waver, where his bullet struck,
The wakeup instead made some sleep forever

The Purlepaus hit the fortress hard
Hurrah! The giant walls thundering down in a loud rush!

[fernando]

Great work, great research, Marcus.
Max the gunner was terrible.
I hope the clodshot ball keeps round enough to roll over my little corner. Just write my address in it, may it get lost during its course